So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

iVillage Member

Registered: 03-22-1999

24	Fri, 08-12-2011 - 5:39pm

This is DD's senior year, so we've been dealing with this for awhile, but I'm just curious how other schools handle things.

Fees:

Basic Fee:

Signatures On

sneakymom1

iVillage Member

Registered: 03-30-2003

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Tue, 09-20-2011 - 9:20am

I have a senior and a freshman.

booklady48

iVillage Member

Registered: 08-08-2005

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Mon, 09-19-2011 - 3:14pm

I don't really keep track of the fees but now that you mention it, there are quite a few. We don't pay for the books (which I might add are in deplorable condition) but the school asks parents to contribute for lab fees ($25 per year per student), athletic fee/donation ($150 per student per sport annually), field trips (ranges from $60-100, mostly for busing/tickets), uniforms ($50-100 each).

I'm sure there are other fees I just can't recall. At back-to-school night, most of the teachers asked for donations of hand sanitizer, kleenex and paper towels. The district is not as strapped as others in our area but it's bad. I donate the fees and whatever else they ask for. I also help out with the fundraisers. I figure that my children need to learn that education is not truly free and if we don't help out, the teacher and the school must

arryl

Community Leader

Registered: 07-26-1999

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Thu, 09-08-2011 - 3:34pm

Is the $43 for the test in the spring? Do they collect it ahead of time, or are you also going to have to pay the test fee in the spring? You may want to look into it so you are prepared ahead of time...

jayhawks4life

iVillage Member

Registered: 06-22-2010

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Thu, 09-08-2011 - 1:34pm

This is kind of a sore subject with me lol because I have been hit twice this year already with extra fees after school has started.

tooner2006

iVillage Member

Registered: 09-19-2006

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Fri, 09-02-2011 - 8:11pm

That does seem high. My son just started college so my numbers are for a year ago. We had to pay for AP tests, but we did not have to pay for them if he did not want to take the test. And of course we paid for a yearbook and it might have been like $10 to $20 for his cap and gown stuff. That was about it if you weren't involved in extracurricular activities. Marching band cost us $250 every year except for the 2 years they went on trips. Then it was a whooping $3,500. One year the trip was required and I had a real problem with that. That seems way over the top for the cost to participate in an extracurricular in a public high school.

tooner2006

iVillage Member

Registered: 09-19-2006

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Fri, 09-02-2011 - 8:05pm

Textbook publishing is a racket. My husband wrote a textbook used in an upper level college class. It sells for $250 and my husband makes about $12 on every copy. Since it is only used in an upper level class it has not sold near the copies of say an intro Physics book. We joke that he is making about 12 cents/hour for his efforts.

arryl

Community Leader

Registered: 07-26-1999

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Thu, 08-25-2011 - 11:01pm

Sorry, wrong second link:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/school-districts-uneasy-over-digital-textbook-mandate-1374340.html

arryl

Community Leader

Registered: 07-26-1999

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Thu, 08-25-2011 - 11:00pm

Here's one in relation to college textbooks which is interesting, it's a blog and opinion based only, but makes sense:

http://suesstew.blogspot.com/2009/10/electronic-textbooks-and-textbook-costs.html

Here's another article from florida that discusses it, along with some other costs that I hadn't taken into account such as the Internet and infrastructure costs. I think there are definitely pros and cons to the eTextbook possibilities.

http://suesstew.blogspot.com/2009/10/electronic-textbooks-and-textbook-costs.html

gilmoregirl871

iVillage Member

Registered: 08-11-2007

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Thu, 08-25-2011 - 8:37pm

I'd love to read it.

arryl

Community Leader

Registered: 07-26-1999

In reply to: momof2greatkids

Re: So How Much Does Your Public School Cost You?

Thu, 08-25-2011 - 7:26pm

Usually if the schools buy the textbooks for the classroom they get access to it online also as part of the price. I'll have to hunt down the article.

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